Car-truck



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. CLIFF. OAR TRUCK.

No. 553,104. Patented Janym, 1896 Inventor.

VV i t messes.

' Q fi Attorney.

All. REBAHAM. PNOTU'UDIQWISMNGTUILDQ 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E, CLIFF. GAR TRUCK (No Model.)

Patented Jan. 14, 1896.

' Inventor.

AZ Attorney.

ANDREW $.GRMAM. PHDYOUTHQWRSWNGTUNDC UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

EDW ARD CLIFF, OF NEW'ARK, NEYV JERSEY.

CAR-TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,104, dated January14, 1896.

Application filed October 26, 1895.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I EDWARD CLIFF, of Newark, in the county of Essex, inthe State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cai Trucks, of which the fol lowing, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to car-trucks for passenger-cars, as coaches andelectric cars; and the object is to provide a truck that will be simple,durable, and easy-riding and that will allow the wheels and axles tomove relatively to each other.

To this end my invention consists in the combination, with the wheelsand axles and the axle-boxes, of frames on the boxes, a plurality ofsemielliptic springs on each side of the truck and arranged one abovethe other and connecting the frames together, and a bolster secured atits ends to and extending between the springs; and my invention consistsin certain other combinations of parts hereinafter described, andspecifically set forth in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed and forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is aside elevation of my improved car-truck. Fig. 2 is amodification of the same. Fig. 3 is atop plan view of the truck shown inFig. 1; and Fig. i is a side elevation, partly in section, of thebolster, taken on line :0 o: of Fig. 3.

Referring specifically to the drawings, A A are the axles and wheels ascommonly employed, B B are the axle-boxes, and C G are the pedestals orframes inolosing the boxes. In some cases these frames maybe madeintegral with the boxes.

The frames 0 O are each made double and are provided with cars a c, &c.In Fig. l the ears are formed or cast on the frames, one in the centerof each side thereof. The cars on the outer side of the frame serve tohold the links 0' o for the chains (not shown) usually connected to thecar-body, but said ears also allow the frames to be reversed orinterchanged, which might bring these cars on the inside. The parts ofeach double frame 0 are separated suliiciently to admit the ends of thesemielliptic springs D D D extending between and connecting the frameson each side of the truck together.

The ends of the which secure the springs to the frames.

Serial No. 566,959. (No model.)

springs are formed with eyes, and the ears on the frames are perforatedto receive bolts The central spring D, extending between the inner sidesof the frames, is somewhat shorter than the upper and lower ones. InFig. 2 the springs D D D are of equal length, for the ears on the framesC C are all formed on the inner sides.

The springs used are the upper parts of full elliptic springs, and theyare arranged substantiallyequal distances apart one above the other.

It will be obvious that although three of these springs are shown oneach side of the truck two would be suflicient to sustain the load itmade heavy, and two would hold the frames with theirboxes in an uprightposition. Three springs on a side, however, are preferred, for thereason, among others, that should one of the springs break the loadwould be sustained by the remaining two. If two springs only areemployed on a side, any one of the springs may be dispensed with, butpreferably the middle one.

The springs are provided at their centers with bands (Z (Z as usual,which are held between blocks of castmetal E E, &c., clamped together bylong vertical bolts 6 c c e, two on each side of the springs. Thesebolts also pass through the bars of the bolster connecting the springstogether The bolster or cross-beam F of the truck is formed of threebars, the ends of two being connected to the springs above the same andthe other being connected to the springs below the same.

The upper bar is slightly arched or raised in its center above its endportions, the lower bar extending between the lower sides of the springsis straight and horizontal, while the third or central bar is bent tolie with its center in contact with the lower bar and with its ends incontact with the ends of the upper or arch bar.

In the center of the bolster between the bars is a separator formed ofan angular bar f, having its center in contact with the lower side ofthe arch-bar, below the center plate G, and secured thereto by rivets.The end portions of the bar f extend downward and outward toward thesides of the truck and are be secured above the ends of the bolster, as

indicated in the drawings.

I do not wish to be limited to the number of springs 1) shown on a side,as I may use a greater or less number. The springs may be differentdistances apart and some may be heavier than others without departingfrom my invention.

It will be obvious that aside from being easyriding this truck iscapable of adapting itself to curves and uneven tracks without danger ofinjury to its parts.

Haring described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

I. In a car-truck, the combination with the wheels and axles, and theaxle-boxes, a plurality of semi-elliptic springs on each side of thetruck arranged one above the other and connecting the axle-boxestogether, and a bolster secured at its ends to and extending between thesprin gs,substantially as set forth.

2. In a car-truck, the combination with the wheels and axles, and theaxle-boxes, of frames on the boxes, a plurality of semi-elliptic springson each side of .the truck, and arranged one above the other, andconnecting at its ends to and extending between the springs,substantially as describedand shown.

3. In a. car-truck, the combination with the wheels and axles, and theaxle-boxes, a plurality of semi-elliptic springs differing in length oneach side of the truck, and connecting the axleboxes together, andabolster secured at its ends to andextending between the springs,substantially as described and shown.

4. In a car-truck, the combination with the wheels and axles, and theaxle-boxes, frames on the boxes, a plurality of semi elliptic springs oneach side of the truck, arranged oneabove the other and connecting thesaid frames together, blocks lying on opposite sides of and between thecenters of the springs, bolts clamping the blocks and springs together,and a bolster secured at its ends to and extending between the springs,substantially as described and shown.

5. In a car-truck, the combination with the wheelsv and axles, and theaxle-boxes, frames on the boxes, a plurality of semi elliptic springs oneach side of the truck, arranged one above the other and connecting thesaid frames together, bands on the centers of the springs, blocks lyingon opposite sides of and between the bands, bolts extending verticallythrough the blocks on each side of the springs. and a bolster extendingbetween the said blocks on each side of the truck and secured in placeby the same bolts, as set forth.

(3. In a car-truck, the combination with the wheels and axles, and theaxle-boxes, double frames on the boxes, ears in the center of each sideof the frames, a pair of semi-elliptic springs extending between theears on the upper and lower sides of the frames, a shorter semi-ellipticspring, on each side of the truck. extending between the ears on theinner sides of the frames, clamps securing the springs together andseparated at their centers, and a bolster secured at its ends to andextending between the clamps, substantially as described and shown.

7. In a car-truck, the combination with the wheels and axles, and theaxle-boxes, a plu I rality of semi-elliptic springs on each side of thetruck arranged one above the other and 1 connecting the axle-boxestogether, and a bolster securedat its ends to and extending between thesprings, said bolster being formed I of an upper arch-bar, a lowerstraight bar. a f central angular bar having its central portion lyingon the upper side of the lower bar and extending with its end portionsupward and lying on the lower sides of the end portions of the arch-bar,and a fourth bar lying with i its central portion on the lower side ofthe 1 center of the arch bar and with its ends bent ,;to lie onthe upperside of the said central I bar, its ends reaching to the angles of thecen- 1 trali bar, said bars being riveted together, as i set forth.

the said frames together, andabolstersecured S. In a car-truck, thecombination with the wheels and axles, and the axle-boxes, frames on theboxes, a plurality of semi elliptic springs on each side of the truck,arranged one above the other and connecting the said frames together,blocks lying on opposite sides of and between the centers ofthe springs,bolts clamping the blocks and springs together, an d a bolster securedat its ends to and extending between the springs, said bolster beingformed of an upper arch-bar, a lower straight bar. a central angular barhaving its central portion lying on the upper side of the lower bar andextending with its endportions upward and lying on the lower side of theend portions of the arch-bar, and a fourth bar lying with its centralportion on. the lower side of the center of the arch bar and with itsendsbent to lie on the upper side of the said central bar. itsends'reaching tothe angles of the central bar, said bars being rivetedtogether, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

EDIVARD CLIFF. [L.

lVitnesses:

E. L. TODD, IV. H. GRAHAM.

